Fire Closes I-5 Near Pyramid Lake
A brush fire sparked by a lumber truck scorched more than 300 acres Wednesday and forced the closure of a five-mile stretch of Interstate 5.
More than 500 firefighters were battling the blaze into the night, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department said it expected to have the fire under control by early today.
The fire was ignited about 2:45 p.m. when wood on the south-bound lumber truck caught fire, apparently because it was placed too close to a hot exhaust pipe, said Gail Wright, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.
Flames spread from the truck to the tinder-dry brush along the freeway near Pyramid Lake, she said.
The blaze came dangerously close to cars on the freeway. For about two hours, California Highway Patrol officers closed all traffic lanes traveling in both directions, from the California 138 junction to the Smokey Bear Road exit, causing a massive traffic jam, said Inspector Edward Osorio of the county Fire Department.
The northbound lanes were reopened by 6 p.m., and southbound lanes remained closed until 7 p.m.
With slight winds, firefighters hoped to contain the fire about midnight, Osorio said.
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